Saracen Killi Flyer Elite – First Look
Born in the early 80’s, the Saracen brand was all but forgotten until Madison grabbed it by its bars and took it back to the podium of both Downhill and Enduro events. With the race ready Myst and Ariel bikes, the Kili Flyer comes in as the trail master in the family.
– Kili Flyer Elite Complete Bike
– 130mm Toray Carbon Frame with Tapered Head Tube.
– Fox 34 Float Factory / 130mm / 15 x110
– Fox Float DPS Factory Rear Shock
– Shimano XT shifters and Derailleur pushing an SLX 1×11 Chainset.
– Shimano XT Brakes
– Raceface Affect 35 Handlebar and Stem
– Kore 27.5 Durox rims laced to Formula Hubs.
– WTB Trail Boss and Beeline Tyre combination.
– KS Lev 120mm Dropper post
– Available in 15”, 17”, 19” and 21” Frames
– Price: £3699.99
Saracen got the internet all jumpy a few seasons ago when they released the Kili Flyer with some questionable tan wall tyres. Rubber choice aside, that frame rode really well and put it right up there with the likes of the Santa Cruz 5010 and Orange Four as an all-round trail tamer. This latest incarnation is priced a little more competitively with this Elite option being the non-budget option.
Out of the box this bike just needed some pedals to get it taking on some of the local trails, but it was soon obvious that the WTB tyres would need to be swapped out for something a little more beefy for a winter in the hills.
A nice surprise was the Raceface cockpit which with the 60mm stem will stay put for the season.
With 130mm of travel the question will always be is this enough for hitting the rocks and gullies of non-trail centre riding? So far it seems that whilst you can’t get away with the square hits a 150-160mm Enduro machine would take, the combination you get with carbon, sweet geometry and solid running kit, means that instead of hitting, you end up floating over the edgy lines.
A winter of riding in the Peaks, North Wales and the Lakes has begun and it looks to be a fast one on board this beauty. Full Review Soon.
